Wrapper roll and support assembly for a strip coiling machine

ABSTRACT

A sheet metal coiling machine is disclosed which includes a rotatable mandrel upon which sheet metal is coiled and a wrapper roll assembly cooperable with the mandrel in forming the initial wraps of the sheet metal thereon. The wrapper roll assembly is comprised of a pair of wrapper rolls rotatably mounted on a head member which in turn is removably mounted on a carriage slidable toward and away from the mandrel. The carriage is provided with a slot extending in the horizontal direction between opposite sides of the carriage. The side edges of the slot converge toward one another in the horizontal direction, and the sidewalls of the slot converge toward one another. The upper and lower edges of the wrapper roll head are tapered for cooperative engagement with the slot in the carriage, whereby the wrapper roll head is slidably insertable and removable from the carriage slot in a horizontal direction from one side of the carriage.

[ Oct. 15, 1974 United States Patent [191 Gross et al.

[ WRAPPER ROLL AND SUPPORT Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham ASSEMBLY FOR A STRIP COILlNG Assistant ExaminerRobert M. Rogers MACHINE [57] ABSTRACT A sheet metal coiling machine is disclosed which in- [75] Inventors: John Gross; Andrew Kaloci; La

Verne H. Lutz, all of Salem, Ohio Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company, New York, NY.

May 7, 1973 cludes a rotatable mandrel upon which sheet metalis [73] Assignee:

e initial wraps of the sheet 22 Filed; metal thereon. The wrapper roll assembly is comprised of a pair of wrapper rolls rotatably mounted on a head member which in turn is removably mounted on a carriage slidable toward and away from the mandrel. The carriage is provided with a slot extending in Appl. No.: 357.794

the horizontal direction between opposite sides of the Int. B2lc 47/00 carriage. The side edges of the slot converge toward one another in the horizontal direction, and the sidewalls of the slot converge toward one another. The

[58] Field of Search 72/148, l55, l57, 158;

17 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures upper and lower edges of the wrapper roll head are tapered for cooperative engagement with the slot in the carriage, whereby the wrapper roll head is slidably insertable and removable from the carriage slot in a horizontal direction from one side of the carriage.

l FEM S M M T mum N m: E m: wA WWW t U "H" & l nu wT w nASTd 9 SB" rTu o mSROB D R E mm W999 NHH U H 903 7 74 1 we 6 l) 5 ,1 l i133 PAIENIEDUCHSIBH sum 03 or 13 w 1Aw fipb Q PAIim u-nm z 5 3974 saw us nr 13 PAIENIEDUCT 1 51914 sum ms ur 13 H08 H2 H0 PAIENTED 151974 sum 120F13 mmm 9515:4150 um I 5 1914 sum 13 or 13 WRAPPER ROLL AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A STRIP COILING MACHINE This invention relates to the art of material handling and, more particularly, to sheet metal coiling apparatus.

Sheet metal coiling apparatus of the character to which the present invention relates includes a rotatable mandrel upon which a sheet metal strip is coiled. A wrapper roll assembly is associated with the mandrel during introduction of the leading end of the metal strip thereonto and is cooperable therewith in forming the initial wraps of the metal strip on the mandrel. The wrapper roll assembly may include one or more wrapper rolls adapted to be positioned adjacent the mandrel during the initial wrap forming operation and moved away from the mandrel during the succeeding portion of the coiling operation. The wrapper rolls may be mounted on a carriage displaceable relative to the mandrel, and often the wrapper rolls are supported by arms;

which are pivotal to move the wrapper roll toward and away from the mandrel. In such case, pivotal movement is imparted to the wrapper roll such as by hydraulic piston and cylinder components having opposite ends. connected one to the arms and the other to the carriage or coiling machine frame.

It will be appreciated that removal of the wrapper rolls or wrapper roll assemblies from the coiling machine is necessary to facilitate replacement and/or repair operations thereomand/or to facilitate the performance of maintenance or replacements of other components of the machine which are not accessible with the wrapper rolls in assembled relationship with respect to the machine. In addition to the wrapper rolls, coiling machines of the character to which the present invention relates include one or more apron members cooperable with the wrapper rolls and mandrel in forming the initial wraps of sheet metal on the mandrel. The apron members are generally mounted for pivotal movement relative to the mandrel by means arms of the apron members at one end and having their other ends pivotally, mounted on the carriage or machine frame.

Heretofore, removal and replacement of the wrapping rolls relative to the coiling machine has involved a considerable amount of time and work. In this respect, the removal and replacement operation required the un-bolting and subsequent re-bolting of numerous securing and driving parts including, in applicable cases, disconnection of the pivot arms for the rolls and- /or apronmembers. In other structures heretofore provided, removal and replacement requires'the complete removal of the wrapping roll carriage from the machine frame. Such-a removal operation also requires many manual connecting and disconnecting operationswith respect to fasteners, pivot arms, and the actuating components of hydraulic piston and cylinder drive units.

Further problems encountered with the removal and replacement of wrapper rolls or wrapper roll assembliesin devices heretofore provided include inefficient and inadequate support of the wrapper rolls or wrapper roll assemblies relative to the machine. Such supporting problems are encountered during the disconnecting operation and thereafter during the physical movement of the wrapper rolls or assemblies relative to the coiling machine. Likewise the supporting problems are attendant to positioning the wrapper roll assemblies relative rolls and adjacent support components of the coiling machine to prevent damage thereof. Accordingly, previous removal and replacement procedures are extremely time consuming and cause undesirable production delays. V

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing problems and others are overcome by providing a wrapper roll assembly and coiling machine support therefor which are structurally interengaged in a manner which enables convenient and expeditious wrapper roll removal and displacement operations. Accordingly, down time and production loss are minimized as are maintenance expenses. In this respect, a minimum number or preliminary operations are required by maintenance personnel prior to a removal operation and, likewise, a minimum number of operations are required by such personnel subsequent to a replacement operation.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the wrapper roll assembly includes a head member supporting the wrapper roll or rolls and the head member and rolls are removable as a unit from the supporting components of the coiling machine. The head member and support component structure enable such removal to be achieved in a minimum amount of time, and the only preliminary operations necessary to achieve removal are disconnection of the drive shaft or shafts for the wrapper rolls and release of the head member from the support component. Removal and replacement of. the wrapper roll assembly is achieved, preferably, from one side or the other of the coiling machine along a linear path unobstructed by structural components of the coiling machine.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the wrapper roll head member is independent of any mechanical interconnection with components. of the coiling machine other than the wrapper rollsfwhereby removal and replacement of the wrapper roll assembly is achieved with a minimum of preliminary and supplementary maintenance operations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the wrapper roll head, once released for removal or positioned in assembled relationship with respect to the support component therefor, is supported by the support component in a manner whereby manipulation of the assembly bothduring removal or during the fastening operation-is-achieved without-the necessity of independent support devices for the wrapper roll assembly. Such independent support devicesare necessarily disposed in the work area and not only hinder the work of maintenance personnel but also subject the personnel to hazardous.working'conditions.

In accordance with another-aspect of the present invention, the wrapper roll assembly and support therefor enable transverse insertion and removal operations to be accomplished with wrapper roll assembly guidance. and alignment-relative to the supportcomponent therefor.- vThis advantageously provides for minimizing the adjustment operations heretofore necessary to properly orient thewrapper roll assembly or interconnection with the support component. g

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, one of the opposite ends of the'wrapper rolls are adapted to be releasably coupled with drive shafts by which the wrapper rolls are rotated. The shafts and wrapper rolls must be disconnected prior to a removal operation, and a novel support arrangement is provided for supporting the drive shafts during the coupling operation and holding the ends of the drive shafts in the proper position for subsequent re-engagement with the wrapper rolls upon replacement of the wrapper roll as sembly. The support function thus provided enables the shaft uncoupling and coupling time to be minimized by avoiding manipulation of the shafts following disengagement and prior to re-engagement with the wrapper roll ends. The savings in time, of course, lends to the overall savings in maintenance time and down time of the coiling apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a wrapper roll assembly and as sembly support structure which provides for the convenient and expeditious removal and replacement of the wrapper roll assembly of a sheet metal coiling machine;

A further object is the provision of a wrapper roll assembly and assembly support structure which provides for removal and replacement of wrapper rolls relative to the support structure in a minimum amount of time and with minimum effort, thus to reduce maintenance costs and down time of the coiling machine.

Another object is the provision of a wrapper roll assembly and assembly support structure which facilitates wrapper roll removal and replacement from a side of the coiling machine and along a horizontal path.

Yet another object is the provision of a wrapper roll assembly and support structure therefor'which interengage to support the wrapper roll assembly relative to the support structure following release of the interconnection therebetween and prior to physical separation thereof, and following assembled interengagement therebetween and prior to mechanical interconnection thereof in assembled relationship.

Still a further object is the provision of a wrapper roll assembly and support structure therefor in which the wrapper roll assembly is adapted to be supported and guided for movement in aligned relationship with respect to the support structure during removal andreplacement operations.

Yet a further object is the provision of a sheet metal coiling machine in which the wrapper roll drive shafts are adapted to be supported in a desired position relative to the driven ends of the wrapper rolls during uncoupling and coupling operations therebetween.

The foregoing objects, and others will in part be obvious and in part pointed out more fully hereinafter in conjunction with the description ,of the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sheet metalcoiling-machine; I

FIG. 2 is a plan .viewillustrating the drive arrangement for various components. of the coiling machine illustrated in FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the coiling machine looking in the direction of line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sideelevational view, in section, of the coiling machine illustrated in FIG. 3;'

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, in section, of one of the coiling machine carriages and the wrapper roll assembly associated therewith;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of one of the wrap per rolls of the wrapper roll assembly in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a component of the wrapper roll adjusting arrangement, the view being along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the carriage and a wrapper roll, the view being along line 8-8 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view, in section, of the adjustable interconnection of an apron actuating cylinder and carriage, the view being along line 9-9 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a plan view, partially in section, of a carriage support and drive arrangement;

FIG. 11 is an end elevation view, partially in section, of the support and drive arrangement illustrated in FIG. 10, the section being along line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the wrapper roll assembly-illustrated in FIG. 5, the view being along line 12-12 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is an elevation view, in section, of the wrapper roll assembly and carriage illustrated in FIG. 5, the view being along line. 13-13 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a detail sectional view of a bolt assembly for interconnecting thewrapper rollhead and carriage, the view being along line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a detailed sectional view of a wrapper roll head displacing mechanism, the view being along 15-15 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the carriage positioning jack, the view being along line 16-16 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the drive arrangement for the wrapper roll head;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of jacks for supporting the wrapper roll drive shafts, the view being along line 18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional elevational view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 18, the section being along line 19-19 in FIG. 18; I

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a balance bar member for removing and replacing the wrapper roll assembly of the coiling machine; and,v

FIG. 21 is an elevation view, partially in section, of the balance bar and wrapper roll assembly as viewed along line 21-2lin.FIG. 20. 1

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the invention, a sheet metal coiling machine is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 which is of thecharacter generally referred to as a down-coiler. The coiling machine is comprised, basically, of a main frame unit 10, a mandrel 12, a pair of wrapper roll assemblies 14, and carriages 16 slidable relative to the main frame and supporting a corresponding one of the wrapper roll assemblies for movement toward and away from the mandrel.

Main rame 10 is of fabricated steel construction having opposite sides 18'and 20 and opposite ends 22 and 24. Sides l8 and 20 are spaced apart'to receive the operating components of the'coiling machine therebetween, and openings, not designated numerically, are provided in thesidewalls to facilitate. driving the mandrel and wrapper rolls from one side of the frame and removing the wrapper roll assemblies from the other side thereof, asset forth more fully hereinafter.

Mandrel 12 extends between sidewalls 18 and 20 and is supported within the main frame in cantilever fashion by a mandrel gear box mechanism 26 disposed outside wall 18 of the main frame. The mandrel is rotatable about an axis extending in the direction between sidewalls 18 and 20 and is rotated through mechanism 26 by a suitable drive motor arrangement 28.

Each wrapper roll assembly 14 is comprised of a supporting head 30, a pair of wrapper rolls 32 and a fixed guide element 34 between the corresponding pair of wrapper rolls 32. The wrapper rolls, as set forth more fully hereinafter, are rotatably supported by the head for rotation about axes generally parallel to the axis of mandrel 12, and each roll is driven by a corresponding shaft 36 and a corresponding drive motor unit 38 located outwardly of side 18 of main frame 10.

Each of the carriages 16 is supported by main frame for sliding movement in a direction transverse to the axis of mandrel 12. Therefore, wrapper roll assemblies 14 are adapted to be positioned relative to mandrel 12 for cooperation therewith in forming the initial wraps of a metal sheet to be coiled on the mandrel and to be moved away from the mandrel after the initial wraps have been formed. Reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage by corresponding drive assemblies each of which is comprised of a plurality of air cylinders 37.

Each of the carriages 16 is provided with at least one apron guide member which is cooperable with wrapper rolls 32 and mandrel 12 in forming'the initial wraps of the metal sheet on the mandrel. In the embodiment illustrated, the carriage on the left hand side of FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided with a lower apron assembly 40, and the carriage on the right hand side is provided with upper and lower apron assemblies 42 and 44, respectively.. The apron assemblies include pivotal apron members and are mounted on the corresponding carriage for movement therewith toward and away from mandrel 12 as set forth more fully hereinafter.

The down-coiler machine further includes a pair of pinch rolls 46 and 48 driven by corresponding shaft and motor assemblies to feed a metal sheet S into the machine. One or more coiling machines may be provided in the path of movement of the metal sheet to be coiled, and driven conveyor rolls 50 extend across the top of main frame 10 to guide and convey the metal sheet past the coiling machine illustrated following the completion of a coiling operation on mandrel 12. A pivotal deflector gate 52 is disposed along the conveyor line and is movable to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to achieve deflection of the end of the metal sheet downwardly into main frame l0. Guidance of the leading end of the metal sheet is also facilitated by atop-throat guide member- '54, a fixed throat guide member 56 and the apron member of apron assembly 41. It will beappreciated that if deflector member 52 is pivoted downwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the leading end of metal sheet S will bypass the coiling machine and be fed along the path defined by. conveyor rolls 50.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that when a metal sheet vis to be coiled on mandrel 12 the leading end is deflected into the throat defined by guides 54 and 56 and apron assembly 42, whereby the leading end is guided toward the periphery of mandrel 12. At this time the wrapper rolls and guide members are positioned adjacent mandrel 12 so thatthe leading end of metal strip S progresses in a counterclockwise direction relative to the axis of mandrel 12. Mandrel 12 is driven in a counterclockwise direction and wrapper rolls 32 are driven clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing. The'wrapper rolls 32, fixed guides 34 and the apron members of assemblies 40, 42 and 44 are positioned adjacent mandrel 12 for cooperation therewith in forming the initial wraps of the 'metal sheet around the mandrel. Onceth'e initial wraps have been formed, carriages 16 are displaced in a direction'away from mandrel 12 to provide the necessary space to enable completion of the wrapping of the metal sheet on the mandrel.

As mentioned hereinabove, carriage 16 is slidable toward and away from mandrel 12 to facilitate positioning of the corresponding wrapper rolls and apron member or members and fixed guide member relative to the mandrel. When the carriage is moved toward the mandrel by the corresponding air cylinders 37 the carriage is stopped, in a manner described more fully hereinafter, to position the corresponding wrapper rolls, fixed guide members and aprons in paced relationship with respect to the outer surface of the mandrel to achieve the initial wrap forming operation. In accordance with the-present invention, the position or orientation of a wrapper roll and/or apron member relative to the mandrel is adapted to be adjusted to increase the accuracy of the spaced relationship and/or alignment therebetween.

With regard first to adjustment of a wrapper roll relative to the mandrel, it will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawing that supporting head 30 of wrapper roll assembly 14 includes a 'vertical mounting plate 57 and a pair of arms 58 extending outwardly from locations adjacent-the opposite ends thereof to support the corresponding wrapper rolls 32-for rotation relative to the supportingh'ead. In the embodiment illustrated, the 0pposite end of each of the four wrapper rolls are supported in like manner with respect to arms 58 of the corresponding supporting. head. Accordingly, only one such support arrangement will be discussed in detail. A preferred support arrangement is illustrated indetail in FIGS. 6-8 of the drawing. In this respect, support arm 58 is provided with an opening 60 adapted to receive the corresponding end of wrapper roll 32. The wrapper roll may be of any desired structure and, in theembodiment illustrated,'includes a steel shaft 62 and a metal jacket 64 suitably secured thereto for rotation therewith. Opening 60 is circular and supports ab'e'aring sleeve 66 having an axis68. Bearing sleeve 66 has a circular opening 70 havingan axis 72 which is eccentric with respect to axis 68.' A sphericalroller' bearing assembly 74 is disposed in opening'70 in surrounding re lationship with respect to the corresponding end "of roller-shafta62, whereby wrapper roll-32 is supported for rotation about axis 72. v

It will be appreciated that rotational displacement of bearing sleeve 66 about axis 68 will angularly displace axis72 relativeto axis 68, thus to vary the distance between axis 72andthe axis of mandrel 12. To achieve such angular displacement, bearing sleeve 66 is 'provided with an annular flangev76 overlying the outer face of arm 58. Flange 76 is provided about its periphery with a plurality of recesses 78 which are circumferentially spaced apart by interposed fingers 80. Further, flange 76 is provided with a plurality of. openings through flange 76 adapted to receive threaded studs 82. Head arm 58 is provided with a plurality of threaded apertures adapted to receive the threaded shanks of studs 82. Thus, studs 82 and apertures 84 are cooperable to releasably maintain bearing sleeve 66 in a desired position relative to arm 58. A wedge shaped locator member 86 is secured to head arm 58 by a pair of threaded studs 88 and is provided with a nose portion 90 adapted to seat in a recess 78 in flange 76 of the bearing sleeve. Locator 86 is operable following an adjusting operation to align the openings in flange 76 with the threaded openings 84 in arm 58.

Adjustment of wrapper roll axis 72 is achieved in the following manner. Wedge 86 is first removed by removal of studs 88, and studs 82 are then removed. This frees bearing sleeve 66 for rotation relative to arm 58, and such rotation can be achieved by a suitable tool such as a spanner wrench. The bearing sleeve can be rotated in increments defined by the circumferential distance between threaded openings 84 in arm 58. When the sleeve has been rotated to the extent desired so that the openings in flange 76 and arm 58 are substantially aligned, locator 86 is replaced. Replacement of the locator brings the openings in lange 76 and arm 58 into exact alignment so that studs 82 can be readily replaced to lock the bearing sleeve in the desired location.

it will be appreciated that the available degree of incremental angular displacement of axis 72 relative to axis 68 can be varied as can the manner in which the degree of increments is defined. For example, incremental displacement can be defined by the circumferential spacing between'adjacent openings in flange 76 for studs 82, or the distance between adjacent threaded apertures 84 in arm 58. Accordingly, additional openings could be provided in flange 76 or, alternatively, additional threaded apertures 84 could be provided in arm 58 to increase the number of increments of displacement available for axis 72 relative to axis 68.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the opposite ends of each wrapper roll is independently adjustable in the manner described above, whereby either one or both ends of a wrapper roll can be manipulated to achieve the desired alignment or misalignment between the wrapper roll and mandrel axes. While it is preferred that both ends of a wrapper roll be mounted relative to the corresponding head arm for adjustement in the foregoing manner, it willbe appreciated that adjustment of the wrapper roll axis can be achieved with only one end of the wrapper roll so supported. The other end of the wrapper roll can be supported by a spherical bearing arrangement which will enable adjustment of the one end relative thereto and thus adjustment of the wrapper'roll axis relative to the mandrel axis.

With regard to adjustment of the apron assemblies relative: to the mandrel, it will be seen inFlG. that upperapron assembly 42 includes a pivotally mounted guide member 92 and an actuating piston and cylinder assembly 94. Similarly, lower apron assembly 44 includes a pivotal apron member 96 and a piston and cylinder actuating mechanism .98. Each of the members 92 and 96 is pivotally mounted on the carriage and-extends therefrom around the corresponding wrapper roll. Guide member 92 has an inner end 100, and apron member 96 has an inner end-102, which ends 100 and 102 are adapted to be disposed in closely spaced relationship with respect to mandrel 12 during the forming of the initial wraps of sheet metal thereon and cooperate with the mandrel and wrapper rolls in the forming of the initial wraps. The positioning of the apron member relative to the mandrel is achieved by the corresponding piston and cylinder unit.

In the preferred embodiment, ends and 102 of the apron members are adapted to be positionally adjusted relative to the mandrel and/or adjacent wrapper roll to facilitate achieving a desired spacing therebetween. More particularly, the pivot axis of each of the members 92 and 96 is angularly adjustable relative to the carriage. Further, the cylinder components of the piston and cylinder units of the apron assemblies are pivotally mounted on the carriage and the pivot axes of the cylinders are also angularly adjustable relative to the carriage. A suitable arrangement by which the foregoing adjustments can be achieved is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9 of the drawing.

The apron members of assemblies 40, 42 and 44 are mounted on the corresponding carriage 16 in like manner. Accordingly, only one mounting arrangement will be described in detail, namely that of apron assembly 44. With reference to FlGS.'5 and 8, carriage 16 is provided with apron support arms 104 having aligned openings 105 and bearings 107 for pivotally supporting an apron shaft 106. One or both ends of shaft 106 is provided with an end plate 108 rigidly secured thereto such as by welding, and end plate 108 is provided with a tool stud 110 which is cooperable with a suitable tool to facilitate rotation of shaft 106. End plate 108 is provided with-a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures adapted to receive threaded studs 112, and the corresponding arm 104 of the carriage is provided with threaded recesses 114 to receive studs 112. Accordingly, the studs and recesses cooperate to retain shaft 106' against rotation relative to carriage arms 104.

Apron shaft 106 is pivotal relative to carriage arms 104 about an axis 116 and is provided intermediate its opposite ends with eccentric shaft portions 118, only one of which appears in FIG. 8. Each shaft portion 118 has an axis 120 which is offset ith respect to axis 116. Apron member 96 is provided with arms 122, and each arm is pivotally interconnected with a corresponding shaft portion 18 for pivotal movement relative to axis 120. lt will be appreciated that the number of apron arms 122 and accordingly the number of offset shaft portions118 can vary depending on the length of the apronmembers. In the embodiment illustrated, each apron member is provided with a pair of arms 122, whereby shaft 106 is provided with two offset shaft portions 118. In any event, shaft portions 118 arerigid with respect to the remainder of shaft 106' and are-in aligned offset relationship with respectto axis 116.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the angular position of pivot axis 120 of the apron member relative to axis 116 of apron shaft 106 can be adjusted in increments by removing studs 1l2and rotating shaft 106 by means of tool stud 110. It will be further appreciated that the degree of incremental angular adjustment is dependent upon the number and circumferential spacing of the stud openings in plate 108 and/or threaded recesses 114 in arm 104. It will be noted'that adjustment of the angular position of axis 120 relative to axis 116 varies the positional relationship of the apron member relative to the mandrel and the adjacent wrapper roll when these components are in the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. of the drawing.

As mentioned above, pivotal movement is imparted to the apron members by the corresponding one of the piston and cylinder units 94 and 98. Adjustment of the positional relationship of the apron members relative to mandrel 12 and the adjacent wrapper roll is further facilitated in accordance with the preferred embodiment by providing for the cylinder and piston units to be adjustable relative to carriage 16. The piston and cylinder units for each apron member may vary dimensionally but the mounting characteristics thereof are the same. Accordingly, only the mounting arrangement between piston and cylinder unit 98 and carriage 16 will be described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9 of the drawing, piston and cylinder unit 98 includes a cylinder 124 which, in a well known manner, reciprocably supports a piston having a piston rod 126 extending from one end of the cylinder. The piston and cylinder unit preferably is air actuated and suitable controls, not illustrated, are provided for introducing operating fluid into the cylinder to displace the piston and thus the piston rod in opposite directions to pivot apron member 96 about axis 120. In this respect, the outer end of piston rod 126 is pivotally interconnected with apron member 96, whereby reciprocating movement of the piston rod imparts pivotal movement to the apron member.

Carriage 16 is provided with support arms 128 which are disposed on opposite sides of cylinder 124. Each arm 128 is provided ith a circular opening 130 adapted to receive a circular bearing block 132. Block 132 has an axis of rotation 134 with respect to support arm 128 and is provided with a circular opening 136 having an axis 138 offset with respect to axis 134. Cylinder 124 is provided on diametrically opposite sides thereof with stud shafts 140 disposed in the corresponding bearing block opening 136. A bearing sleeve 142 is disposed between opening 136 and stud shaft 140 to pivotally support cylinder 124 relative to carriage arms 128 for pivotal movement about axis 138.

In a manner similar to that described hereinabove with regard to the wrapper roll end supports, bearing block 132 is provided with a peripheral flange 144 overlying the outer surface of the corresponding carriage arm 128. Flange 144 is apertured to receive threaded studs 146, and carriage arm 128'is provided with threaded apertures 148 to receive the threaded shanks of studs 146. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that studs 146 can be removed and bearing block 132 rotated relative to axis 134 to achieve angular displacement of cylinder pivotaxis 138 relative to axis 134. Once the angular position has been adjusted, studs-146 are interconnected with carriage arm 128 to retain bearing block 132 in a fixed position relative to the support arm. It will be seen from FIG. 5 that this adjustment enables varying the position-of cylinder axis 138 relative to the mandrel axis and to the position of apron pivot axis 120 and, thus, variation of the posi- 6 5 formed on the mandrel. The interrelationship between the frame and carriage is best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 11 and 13 of the drawing. In this respect, carriage 16 is generally rectangular in cross section and of fabricated steel construction. The carriage includes sidewalls 149 and 151 suitably interconnected with one another and disposed adjacent sides 18 and 20 of frame 10, respectively. Frame 10 and carriage 16 are provided with cooperable guide and support arrangements therebetween, designated generally by numeral 153,

whereby the carriage is slidably supported for movement relative to the frame in a direction transverse to the mandrel axis.

In the embodiment illustrated, three air cylinders including cylinder members 39 are provided for imparting reciprocating movement to carriage 16 relative to frame 10. Cylinders 39 are supported relative to frame 10 by means of a steel support tube 150, cylinder support block 152 and side support blocks 154 mounted in opposite sides of the frame. Tube 150 extends between frame sides 18 and 20 and is suitably interconnected therewith such 'as by welding. Cylinder support block 152 is mounted on tube and includes arms 155 disposed between adjacent'ones of the cylinders and havingu'pper ends providing bearing components 30 which pivotally receive support studs 157 extending laterally from diametrically opposite sides of cylinders 39. The outer two cylinders have similar support studs pivotally supported by the corresponding one of the blocks 154 inthe frame sidewalls.

35 Each of the air cylinders 37 includes a piston reciprocable within the corresponding cylinder. in a well known manner for imparting reciprocating movement to a corresponding piston rod 156. It will be appreciated that suitable connections, not illustrated, are provided together withcontrols for actuating the air cylinders to achieve reciprocating movement of piston rods 156. The outer ends of piston rods 156 are each inter connected with carriage 16, such as by pin 158, and it will be appreciated the carriage structure includes suitable plate flanges or the like to facilitatesuch interconnection. The interconnection provides for reciprocating movement of piston rod 156 to impart corresponding reciprocating movement tocarriage 16 relative to frame 10.- I i i J Y When the carriage is displaced in the direction toward mandrel 12 it is preferred to provide a stop arrangement for limiting movement of the carriage in this direction and for positioning the wrapper rolls relative to the mandrel prior to the initial'wr-ap forming operation. A preferred stop arrangement for this purpose .is

LII

illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and l6 and includes anadjustable jack unit 160 on each side of frame 10, Each jack unit is mounted on the corresponding side of frame 10 and includesan extendible and retractable jack element 162 positioned within a window or opening 164 provided in-the corresponding sidewall of carriage 16. Window. .164 provides for the carriageto reciprocate relative to the jack unit,'cylind'er support pins 65 157 and pin support blocks 154. The rearward end 165 of window 164 is adapted to engage the other'end of jack member 162 to limit movement of carriage 16 in the direction toward mandrel 12.

The two jack units associated with a given one of the carriages are simultaneously adjustable. In this respect, each jack member 162 is adapted to be reciprocated in opposite directions through a suitable gear box 166 and corresponding rotatable shafts 168 depending from the gear boxes. Each of the shafts 168 is operatively associated with a corresponding gear box 170 supported by the frame, and gear boxes 170 are interconnected by a shaft 172 extending therebetween and beneath carriage 16. Each of the gear boxes 170 is provided with a stud shaft 174, and one or the other of the stud shafts is adapted to be connected to a power source such as a motor, not illustrated, for rotating the stud shaft. In a manner well known, rotation of stud shaft 174 operates through the gear boxes 170, shafts 168 and upper gear boxes 166 to simultaneously impart reciprocating movement to the two jack elements 162. Accordingly, the position of jack elements 162 can be adjusted to achieve the desired initial positioning of the carriage and thus the wrapper rolls and guide members relative to the mandrel. It is to be noted that the axis of each of the jack members 162 extends horizontally through the axis of mandrel 12 and through the horizontal center line of the carriage and wrapper roll assembly thereon. This relationship advantageously reduces or eliminates the imposition of an undesirable moment on the carriage which would be encountered if the stop mechanism were disposed below or above the horizontal center line of the carriage.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, carriage assemblies 16 and the corresponding wrapper roll assemblies 14 are structurally interrelated in a manner which facilitates removal and replacement of the wrapper roll assemblies horizontally from side'20 of main frame 10. The structural interrelationship between the carriages and wrapper roll assemblies is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 12 and 13 of the drawing. In this respect, as mentioned hereinbefore, supporting head 30 of wrapper roll assembly 14 includes a support plate 57, and wrapper roll support arms 58. Head 30 further includes a support plate portion for fixed guide member 34. The latter support plate portion includes walls 59 and 61 extending forwardly from plate 57 and between arms 58, and a front wall 63 to which the guide member 34 is removably secured.

Support plate 57 has upper and lower edge surfaces 176 and 178, respectively. As will be seen in FIGS. and 13, surfaces 176 and 178 are inclined such that-the planes thereof converge in the direction from side, 20 of frame toward side 18 thereof. Preferably, surfaces 176 and 178 are provided with wear plates 177 of bronze or the like. Further, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, surfaces 176 and 178 are also inclined such-that the planes thereof converge toward one another in the direction toward the mandrel axis. The forward end of carriage 16 is provided with a support plate -179extending between sidewalls 149 and 151 of the carriage and plate 179 is provided adjacent its topand bottom bottom edges with parallel recesses 181 adapted to receive upper. and lower hardened steel pads 180-and 182, respectively. Pads 180 and 182 have inwardly. facing surfaces 184 and 186, which are inclined for cooperative engagement, respectively, with wear plates 177 on surfaces 176 and 178 when the wrapper roll assembly is in assembled relationship with the carriage. Accordingly, the planes of pad surfaces 184 and 186 converge in the direction from sidewall of the frame toward sidewall 18 thereof, and in the direction toward the mandrel axis.

The tapered surface of plate 57 define projecting guides and the tapered surfaces of pads and 182 define recessed guideways facilitating sliding engagement of the wrapper roll assembly relative to the carriage. Bronze wear plates 188 and hardened steel linears 190 may be provided on plates 57 and 179, respectively, to enhance the sliding engagement therebetween during assembly and a tight fit therebetween upon completion of the assembly.

The cooperative tapers on plate 57 and carriage pads 180 and 182 provide for wrapper roll assembly 14 to be withdrawn from the coiling machine in a horizontal direction from side 20 of frame 10. Further, the tapered guides cooperate to support the wrapper roll assembly against displacement vertically relative to the carriage and in a direction from the carriage toward the mandrel. Preferably, the tapers are symmetrical with respect to a horizontal center line therebetween as this relationship enables interchanging the wrapper roll assemblies with respect to the carriages. It will be appreciated, however, that the desired sliding and interengaging relationship can be achieved with cooperable recessed guideways and projecting guides other than those illustrated and described herein, and that such recessed guideways can be provided on the supporting head and the projecting guides on the carriage. Many structural arrangements and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

When the wrapper roll'assembly and carriage are in assembled relationship, the converging ends of the cooperable guides and guideways on the carriage and wrapper roll assembly interengage to position the wrapper roll assembly relative to the sides' of the carriage. When so positioned, the wrapper roll assembly is adapted to be interengaged with the carriage by a releasable locking bolt 192 which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 14. In this respect, end wall 149 of carriage 16 includes a flange portion 196 and the adjacent side of support head 30 of the wrapper roll assembly is provided with an opening 194 in wrapper roll arm 58 and a recess 195 in plate 57. Flange 196 is provided with a recess 198 adapted to receive the shank of a pivotal lock bolt 200. The inner end of bolt 200 is'disposed in recess 195 and supported for pivotal movement relative to the head 30 such as by a pivot pin 202 extending through the bolt. A spring biased finger 204 is supported by head 30 and is biased toward the pivoted end of bolt 200,'which pivoted end is provided with a pair of spaced apart recesses 206 and 208. The outer end of bolt 200 is threaded to receive a nut 210.

Nut 2l0is adapted to be tightened on bolt-200 to draw head 30 toward sidewall 149 of carriage 16. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the lock bolt assembly 192'is operable to-releasably interengage the wrapper roll assembly and carriage and to draw the cooperably tapering guides and guideways of the carriage and head into tight engagement. When the wrapper roll assembly is to be removed from the carriage, nut 210 is either partially or fully removed from bolt 200 and the bolt is pivoted to the broken line position thereof illustrated I in FIG. 14. The'bolt isretained in the latter position by engagement of finger 204 with recess208, whereby the bolt is maintained in its inoperable position for removal with the wrapper roll assembly and without interfering with such removal. When the wrapper roll assembly is 

1. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis extending in a given direction, head means supported by said frame means, wrapper roll means rotatably supported by said head means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, and means releaseably interengaging said head means and frame means for removal of said head means and wrapper roll means as a unit from said frame means, said interengaging means including slidably interengageable guide means and guidway means on said head means and frame means extending in said given direction.
 2. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis extending in a given direction, head means supported by said frame means, wrapper roll means rotatably supported by said head means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, means releasably interengaging said head means and frame means for removal of said head means and wrapper roll means as a unit from said frame means, said wrapper roll means including a wrapper roll having opposite ends, a drive shaft extending in said given direction from one of said opposite ends of said wrapper roll and having one end spaced from said one end of the wrapper roll or interconnection with means to rotate said shaft, coupling means for releasably interengaging the other end of said shaft with said one end of said wrapper roll, and means for engaging said shaft at a location therealong spaced from said other end and supporting said other end of said shaft in a fixed position relative to said one end of the wrapper roll during coupling and uncoupling operations.
 3. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis extending in a given direction, head means supported by said frame means, wrapper roll means rotatably supported by said head means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, means releasably interengaging said head means and frame means for removal of said head means and wrapper roll means as a unit from said frame means, said wrapper roll means including a wrapper roll having opposite ends, a drive shaft extending in said given direction from one of said opposite ends of said wrapper roll and having one end spaced from said one end of the wrapper roll for interconnection with means to rotate said shaft, coupling means for releasably interengaging the other end of said shaft with said one end of said wrapper roll, and means for supporting said other end of said shaft in a fixed position relative to said one end of the wrapper roll during coupling and uncoupling operations, said means for supporting said other end of said shaft being extendable and retractable jack means.
 4. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis, means including wrapper roll means supported by said frame means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, said wrapper roll means including head means and wrapper rolls, said wrapper rolls being mounted on said head means and supported thereby for rotation about axes generally parallel to said mandrel axis, said head means and wrapper rolls being removable from said frame means as a unit, in the direction of said mandrel axis, and said head means and frame means including slidably interengageable pairs of guides and guideways extending in said direction and interengaging said head means and frame means for sliding removal of said head means relative to said frame means in said direction.
 5. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis, means including wrapper roll means supported by said frame means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, said wrapper roll means including head means and wrapper rolls, said wrapper rolls being mounted on said head means and supported thereby for rotation about axes generally parallel to said mandrel axis, said head means and wrapper rolls being removable from Said frame means as a unit, in a given direction, and means interengaging said head means and frame means for sliding movement of said head means relative to said frame means in said given direction, said interengaging means including cooperatively tapered pairs of guides and guideways on said frame means and head means.
 6. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said pairs of guides and guideways each taper both in said given direction and in a direction toward one another.
 7. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said given direction is generally parallel to said mandrel axis, said head means and frame means having corresponding opposite ends in said given direction, and cooperable fastening means at corresponding ones of said opposite ends to releasably retain said head means in assembled relationship with respect to said frame means.
 8. The mechanism according to claim 7, and means on said frame means actuatable to impart sliding movement to said head means relative to said frame means and in said given direction.
 9. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means, a mandrel rotatable relative to said frame means about an axis, means including wrapper roll means supported by said frame means and cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, said wrapper roll means including head means and wrapper rolls, said wrapper rolls being mounted on said head means and supported thereby for rotation about axes generally parallel to said mandrel axis, said head means and wrapper rolls being removable from said frame means as a unit, in a given direction, and means interengaging said head means and frame means for sliding movement of said head means relative to said frame means in said given direction, said given direction being generally parallel to said mandrel axis, and said frame means having opposite sides in said given direction and said wrapper rolls having corresponding first ends at one of said sides, said head means being removable from said frame means in the direction from said one side toward the other, a driven shaft for each wrapper roll having one end adjacent said first end of said wrapper roll, said shaft extending to a location spaced from said one side of said frame means for interconnection with drive means for said shaft at said location, coupling means releasably interconnecting said one end of said shaft and said first end of said wrapper roll, and extendible and retractable means for engaging and supporting said shaft during coupling and uncoupling operations to maintain said one end of the shaft in position relative to said first end of said wrapper roll.
 10. The mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said interengaging means includes cooperatively tapered pairs of converging guides and guideways on said frame means and head means, said pairs of guide and guideways each tapering in a direction toward said mandrel axis and converging in the direction from said other frame side toward said one frame side.
 11. The mechanism according to claim 10, and interengageable fastening means between said head means and frame means to releasably hold said head means and frame means in assembled relationship.
 12. The mechanism according to claim 11, and means on said frame means adjacent said one side thereof actuatable to impart sliding movement of said head means relative to said frame means in said direction from said one side of said frame means toward the other.
 13. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means having opposite sides, a mandrel supported in said frame means for rotation about an axis extending in the direction between said opposite sides, a wrapper roll assembly supported by said frame means and including a pair of generally parallel wrapper rolls and means supporting said rolls for rotation about axes extending in said direction, apron means interconnected with and supported by said frame means, said apron means and wrapper rOlls being cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, and guide means and guideway means on said wrapper roll assembly and frame means cooperably interengaging said wrapper roll assembly with said frame means independent of said apron means for sliding removal of said assembly from said frame means in the direction between said opposite sides.
 14. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means having opposite sides, a mandrel supported in said frame means for rotation about an axis extending in the direction between said opposite sides, a wrapper roll assembly supported by said frame means and including a pair of generally parallel wrapper rolls and means supporting said rolls for rotation about axes extending in said direction, apron means interconnected with and supported by said frame means, said apron means and wrapper rolls being cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, and means interengaging said wrapper roll assembly with said frame means independent of said apron means and for sliding movement of said assembly relative to said frame means in the direction between said opposite sides, said means rotatably supporting said wrapper rolls including a head, said head having upper and lower edges converging in said direction and tapering in the direction toward said mandrel axis, and said frame means including a recess having cooperatively converging and tapering edges, said edges on said head and said recess edges defining said interengaging means.
 15. The mechanism according to claim 14, including pivotal bolt means on said head adjacent the converging ends of said upper and lower edges, and means on said frame means adjacent the converging ends of said recess edges cooperable with said bolt means to retain said head and frame means in assembled relationship.
 16. The mechanism according to claim 15, and fluid actuated plunger means supported by said frame means adjacent said converging ends of said recess edges and including a plunger actuatable to engage said head in the direction from said converging ends toward the diverging ends of said recess and head edges to move said head relative to said frame means in said latter direction.
 17. A sheet metal coiling mechanism comprising, frame means having opposite sides, a mandrel supported in said frame means for rotation about an axis extending in the direction between said opposite sides, a wrapper roll supported by said frame means for rotation about an axis extending in said direction, said wrapper roll having opposite ends and being cooperable with said mandrel to form the initial wraps of a coil of sheet metal to be formed around said mandrel, means releasably interengaging said wrapper roll with said frame means for removal of said wrapper roll from said frame means, a drive shaft extending in said direction from one of said opposite ends of said wrapper roll and having one end spaced from said one end of the wrapper roll for interconnection with means to rotate said shaft, coupling means for releasably interengaging the other end of said shaft with said one end of said wrapper roll, and jack means for engaging said shaft at a location therealong spaced from said other end and supporting said other end of said shaft in a fixed position relative to said one end of the wrapper roll during coupling and uncoupling operations. 